3 Essential Supplements

Commercials are rampant with advice on the latest and greatest supplement everyone should be taking. For those that don’t want a fistfull of pulls every morning, here’s a few standouts:

A good multivitamin fills the gaps in any diet. Even healthy diets may not always provide quite everything we’d ideally need, and most people don’t eat nutritious enough foods, either. Be wary of some brands, however, as quality control varies largely in the multivitamin world. Many drugstore brand multis contain the bare minimum set by the FDA for daily allowance, which really is a number created as a minimum to avoid disease etc. Ideally you’ll want to be above these numbers in most vitamins and minerals.

Choosing a quality omega-3 supplement is a powerful addition, as well. Omega-3 slows the liver’s production of triglycerieds, which helps prevent heart disease. A common source of omega-3 is fish oil. Fish oil can also reduce inflammation, heal blood vessel walls, and lower blood pressure.

The demand for fish oil has wreaked havoc on marine life, however, so omega-3 from phytoplankton is perhaps a better option. Phytoplankton is a plant-based alternative to fish oil that is free of mercury and ocean pollution, and you’re not disturbing fish or their food supply.

Vitamin D3 continues to be linked to more and more health benefits. Since we spend less and less time outdoors, especially in cooler months, many people are deficient in the Vitamin D that our bodies produce from direct sunlight. Studies have shown that Vitamin D can protect against some cancers, strengthen bones, and help with diabetes! Additionally, many medical professionals believe that Vitamin D lowers blood pressure, reduces depression, and generally elevates mood.

When possible, spend 20-30 minutes sunbathing without sunscreen. If your ability to be outdoors is limited by season or geographic location, take 2500-5000 IU daily.

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